Question 156Steam Plants - Assistant Engineer

The correct answer is A) Viscosity. Viscosity is the most significant characteristic of fuel oil when determining the temperature to which the fuel oil must be heated for proper atomization. Fuel oil needs to be heated to a specific temperature in order to reduce its viscosity and allow for proper atomization during the combustion process. The lower the viscosity, the easier it is for the fuel to be atomized and mixed with air for efficient combustion. The other options (flash point, specific gravity, and pour point) are important fuel oil properties, but they are not the primary factor in determining the necessary heating temperature for atomization.